The Power of Complexity

Complexity studies processes of emergence of spontaneous coherence at the edge of chaos – a critical zone where order loses its rigidity and the energy and forces liberated in this process can either create complex dynamic patterns or joining the whirling sea of chaos.

The world ‘complex’ origins from the Latin words complexus, which means ‘totality’ and complecti, which means ‘embrace’. The totality of existence manifests in its dynamics, in its never-ending motion. When trying to embrace this totality, complexity focuses on its almost miraculous ability to self-organize – an ability, which can reveal the maximum of its creative power at the edge of chaos.

We are not unconscious about self-organizing ability of complexity – we are its products: we feel its power not only in our physical growth and reproductive ability but also in the intensity and magnitude of our feelings and our mental capacity; and at the same time, we are not conscious about self-organization either – we cannot create it: we cannot push self-organization to go where we want to, we cannot fight with its tremendous power. We cannot make spontaneous coherence emerge according to our desire but we can seed it and nourished; spontaneity needs gate to burst out and a space to manifest its creative potential – the edge of chaos provides both the gate and space for spontaneity.

At the edge of chaos, any external interventions that are alien to self-organizing ability of complex dynamics tend to produce false structures and ‘numbing effects’ with destructive consequences, particularly for the processes of life. In criticality of an individual’s life complexity can reveal its creative power only through those human dynamics, which are authentic.